Overview & Reviews

The Jeep Grand Cherokee is one of the pioneers that ushered in the modern midsize SUV in the early 1990s. Jeep has always wanted the Grand Cherokee to be maneuverable enough for urban duty, roomy enough for family duty, stylish enough to take out on the town and capable enough to tow your toys or shuttle your passengers to a remote campsite. Modern Grand Cherokees are far more refined than the early models, but they're no less versatile.

Unlike most other traditional SUVs, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always been built using a carlike unibody platform for superior on-road handling. Yet Jeep's strong reputation for off-road prowess is retained, thanks to the Grand Cherokee's advanced four-wheel-drive systems and capable suspension. It's a rare combination of attributes in a modern utility vehicle, as the Jeep is able to venture farther off the beaten path than competing crossover SUVs.

User Reviews:

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  Diesel Disappointment - 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Curtis Smith - October 30 - 6:01 am

  I vowed never to part with my Toyota 4Runner until I saw the Super Bowl commercial for the diesel Grand Cherokee. By March I was test driving an overland model and immediately impressed with the torque and gas mileage. How can you beat 30 mpg on the highway with the ability to yank my boat down the road at 65+ mph with minimal downshifts? Fast forward 15 months and Im desperately trying to negotiate the trade value as I look to replace the recall and service bulletin ridden vehicle. First, the jeep would overheat pulling a small 17.5 ft speed boat that was half the rated towing weight. No kidding had to pull off the road on multiple trips to let the engine back off the red. The dealer kept advising it needed computer updates and then would send me on my way. Which leads me to the next issues - the dealers had no clue how to service or repair this vehicle. The first to oil changes they did not reset the oil life in the computer and when asked just proceeded to mash my accelerator into the floor and push buttons. It took me googling the procedures to show them how to reset. At 18k miles, I began to notice a rough idle. I reported to the dealership and told thats normal. At 19k I began to get check engine lights. Each time, I get the "computer updates" line. Note, the thing is also going in every other month or so for some sort of recall. After taking the vehicle in twice in one week for the check engine light with repeated reports of rough idle and now acceleration, Im told a recent (two months old) service bulletin was out for the issue. After googling the service bulletin I was shocked at the level of "repair" necessary. A week, then a month go by before the dealer can get the parts. They even have me drop the vehicle and then return because they realize they dont have all the parts- like I said, significant repair. Finally they get the parts and I drop the vehicle. A week goes by and they havent even touched the vehicle. Im told the tech had other vehicles ahead of mine. Why the heck did I drop it off then? It takes almost another month before the car is finally repaired. The most significant engine repair I have had on any vehicle. Let alone one with less than 20k miles and just over a year old. All said I traded the jeep. If you are flirting with the idea of the diesel, first Google the service bulletin and take a look at the repair you may need and whether you are comfortable paying that kind of money for something that will likely need a significant overhaul.

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  Dependable - 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By gatorelf - October 30 - 5:05 am

  I bought the vehicle in 2004 just off of a lease program with 69,000 miles. I now have 177,000 miles and its running great. The transmission did give out at 148k but thats about normal. I bought it because of the legendary straight six. IMO and my only complaint with the vehicle is there should have been a recall on the window motors. All four window motors have been replaced over the years. All four with the same exact problem, the cable snapped overnight while the window was up. I was told the replacement motors all had a heavier cable. Comfort: about a year ago I thought i was ready for that cool looking Volvo XC90 ! Then I test drove one, couldnt wait to get out of it.

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  grand laredo 4 door 4X4 - 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By patricia flynn - October 29 - 12:03 am

  this is the fourth jeep that i have owned. the only thing i dont like about this jeep are the handles that are to close to the windows.i feel it blocks a lot of the view. other than that i love every thing else about it. and i have always gotten a fair resale price on other jeeps ive owned and sold.

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  Transmission Issues - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Candice - October 28 - 4:03 am

  Since I have bought the Jeep the check engine light kept coming on, took it to a Jeep dealership and replaced Transmission Control Module. Still having same issues and I took it back to dealership and now it is the shifter module. It doesnt want to switch gears and when I put it in drive or reverse it doesnt want to go. Does anyone know anything about this or has had some of the same issues?

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  2005 Cherokee Laredo, 4.7 liter - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By DSV - October 27 - 8:10 pm

  I have 93,000 miles on this car. I have had only two problems that the dealer should have been able to repair rapidly, but didnt. The alarm system would not open the door with the key and then wouldnt run after opening with the key. The control module was bad and the technician couldnt determine this? The tire pressure monitors also indicate a leak, but are not leaking. I took to a new dealer who checked the car during an oil change and he told me that batteries were bad. This is a very expensive fix at $90 each.

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  my first - 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By carlover92 - October 27 - 9:06 am

  This is my first Jeep to own. So far I love the vehicle. Other than the fact that the transmission needs fixing, and a few other things but the car is over 14 years old. I love how it moves with the road and if I go 60mph I can easily get 23mpg and over 500 miles per tank. Thats as good as the new ones. I do average 19mpg around town and that is still pretty good too.

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  Love the vehicle, but needs improvements - 1994 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By tseal - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Great vehicle for the first 7 years but in the last two years I have replaced the catalytic converter, water pump, a/c evap.coil and have had the transmission rebuilt. About $2700 in repairs. All that expense would be more acceptible if it had 150,000 miles on it, but it has only been driven about half of that mileage.

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  Buyer Beware - 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By ichabod98 - October 24 - 10:00 am

  Very "cool" vehicle as far as looks go. However, not "cool" when it comes to a functioning A/C. I first had a $400 compressor clutch repair then 6 months later a $750 evaporator coil repair. At 86,000 miles the transmission began to slip, there was a strange knocking noise from the rear end and the drivers side window motor began going out.

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  Grand Problems - 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By mike - October 24 - 1:13 am

  Purchased the GC with 35k on it. Had to put a new $500 water pump at 36K. Various small plastic parts were replaced in the door locks. At 96k miles the AC only blows out of the defrost. The cruise control doesnt work. The tweeter speakers crackle. On the other hand the 6 cyl. engine and transmission have been reliable with no problems. Power is good and I get 20 mpg on the highway. The V8 version gets 14. The 10 disc player crapped out at 50k and I replaced the radio with a new Sony unit. Installed ceramic pads on the disc brakes second year I had it.

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  What a Disappointment - 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee
  By Evlengr - October 23 - 11:50 pm

  This car is a major disappointment. I got the 3.7L thinking to save some on gas. It not only gets an average of 14.7 (average of 30 fill-ups); mpg it is also sluggish to respond when you put your foot down. I have been told by dealer that everything tests well according to their diagnostic. That was after the recall notice on the transmission. This is my third and last Jeep. The power band shifting is horrible and laggy. The vehicle will take almost a full second to respond when you put your foot down on the gas, and does not shift correctly (probably why the gas mileage and response is so bad). After six months of ownership I will be trading it in for a Murano. What a disappointment.